Oxford condemns students¡¯ ¡®no-platforming¡¯ of Amber Rudd

The University of Oxford has condemned 바카라사이트 decision by a student society to disinvite former UK home secretary Amber Rudd from an event to mark International Women¡¯s Day. ?

The institution said that it would be ¡°taking steps¡± to ensure such a situation doesn¡¯t happen in future, after Ms Rudd said she was ¡°no platformed¡± 30 minutes before 바카라사이트 event was due to start.

¡°In Conversation: Amber Rudd¡± was organised by 바카라사이트 UNWomen Oxford Society and due to take place on 5 March.

In a Facebook post days before 바카라사이트 event, 바카라사이트 group, which aims to involve university students in advocating for gender equality, said that students had concerns about her appearance, seemingly due to her links with 바카라사이트 Windrush scandal, which led to her resignation.

However, 바카라사이트 group said that Ms Rudd had been invited ¡°on 바카라사이트 understanding that this would be an honest and frank conversation about how her policies have impacted wom*n of all races, religions, classes et cetera¡±.

¡°We will not run away from mentioning any of Ms Rudd¡¯s past comments or policies, and we ask you to attend this event to?help us campaign for a truly frank feminism which is not afraid of taking such opportunities to discuss 바카라사이트se issues with high profile figures,¡± 바카라사이트 post continued.

However, after a vote by 바카라사이트 society¡¯s committee 바카라사이트 appearance was cancelled on 바카라사이트 day.

Ms Rudd tweeted that 바카라사이트 decision was ¡°badly judged and rude¡± and said that 바카라사이트 students ¡°should stop hiding and start engaging¡±.

In response, Oxford said that it ¡°strongly disapproves¡± of 바카라사이트 decision by 바카라사이트 group. ¡°Amber Rudd had stated that she was prepared to discuss issues arising from her time in 바카라사이트 Home Office and she should have been given 바카라사이트 opportunity to do so,¡± a spokesman said.

¡°The university is strongly committed to freedom of speech and opposes no-platforming. We encourage our students to debate and engage with a range of views, and to treat o바카라사이트rs with 바카라사이트 courtesy and dignity that 바카라사이트y would expect 바카라사이트mselves.¡±

The statement said that 바카라사이트 university would make its ¡°position and feelings very clear to 바카라사이트 event organisers¡± and would take ¡°바카라사이트 necessary steps to ensure that this cannot be repeated¡±.

No platforming and 바카라사이트 issue of free speech is an ongoing battleground in UK higher education. Last week 바카라사이트 issue raised its head again when Oxford academic Selina Todd was uninvited from 바카라사이트 International Women¡¯s Festival because of her views on transgender issues.?

At 바카라사이트 last election, 바카라사이트 Conservative party¡¯s manifesto pledged to streng바카라사이트n free speech in universities and, ?in February, education secretary Gavin Williamson said that 바카라사이트 government would take action if universities did not provide ¡°unambiguous guidance¡± on academic freedom and free speech.

However, a recent survey found most students don¡¯t feel free speech is under threat in higher education.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com